In this insightful and grounded episode, Alyssa Dineen sits down with celebrity dating coach, media personality, and bestselling author Damona Hoffman to break down the biggest misconceptions in modern dating, and what actually leads to lasting connection.

Damona shares how dating apps changed the landscape of relationships, why over-texting creates false intimacy, and how chasing instant chemistry can distract us from true compatibility. Drawing from years of coaching experience and her own love story, she explains why dating works best when treated as a process rather than a spark-driven guessing game.

Alyssa and Damona also unpack outdated dating rules, shifting gender norms, and how communication breakdowns contribute to dating burnout. Together, they offer practical guidance for moving off the apps, setting realistic expectations, and building attraction over time, without losing yourself in the process.

This episode is a refreshing reality check for anyone feeling confused, discouraged, or overwhelmed by modern dating.

1. (01:00) Damona’s background and how she became a dating coach
2. (02:30) Translating personal branding principles into dating profiles
3. (04:40) Why dating apps became essential, and who they actually serve
4. (06:10) The communication crisis in modern dating
5. (08:30) Dating burnout and the illusion of connection through texting
6. (09:25) Why you can’t truly know someone through messages alone
7. (11:20) The “one-to-one rule” and when to move off the apps
8. (13:45) Phone calls vs. first dates as screening tools
9. (15:15) Managing expectations and emotional energy in early dating
10. (17:00) Letting go of outdated dating rules and gender roles
11. (19:30) How relationships and marriage have evolved
12. (20:30) Reciprocity over rigid roles in modern partnerships
13. (23:25) Damona’s real-life dating experiment, and how she met her husband
14. (27:00) Why dating should be treated as a process, not a vibe
15. (30:00) Rethinking distance, flexibility, and logistics in dating
16. (35:40) How dating needs change across different life stages
17. (38:15) Questioning inherited stories about love and romance
18. (39:05) Chemistry vs. compatibility, and why chemistry alone isn’t enough
19. (40:50) The three-date rule and how attraction actually builds
20. (44:15) Rom-com expectations vs. real-life...